RETAIL SHOPS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19104, 27 August 1936, Page 10

RETAIL SHOPS

44-HOUR WEEK WORK ON SATURDAYS ARBITRATION COURT ORDER (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. Judgment was given to-day by the Arbitration Court in regard to applications for new awards relating to re tail shops, including substantially every type of retail shop doing business' in New Zealand other than grocers and butchers. The awards at present in force fix the hours of work at 48 per week. The employees asked for a 40-hour week, and that Saturday work should be eliminated. In the course of its judgment Ihe court says:— "Upon careful consideration of (lie whole of Ihe evidence and arguments addressed to us, we are of opinion that it would be impracticable to carry on efficiently the industries involved in these applications on a 40-hour week. We therefore make an order that the maximum number of hours, exclusive of overtime —to lie worked in any week by any worker bound by any of the .above-mentioned awards shall be 44, and that the awards be amonded accordingly. Work on Saturdays will be permitted." The order will come into force on September 1, 1936. In a dissenting judgment, Mr. A. L. Monteith said: "As the Act gives the court power to fix the limit between 40 and 44 hours, and in view of the non-perishable nature of the goods, the large number of females employed and the IOA-liour day on the day of the late night 1 believe that not more than a 42-hour week should have been awarded.'' [n its judgment in respect to employees in workrooms attached to retail establishments, the court makes a general order, that without disturbing the total weekly hours of work fixed by their respective awards, or ordered' by the court under the provisions of the Factories Act, such employees may be required to work on each day. including Saturday, that the retail establishment to which they belong may be open for business.